Charles Manders

Charles, the main character in “The Happiest Days of Your Life” by Penelope Lively is probably around 10 or 11 years old, as suggested by his enrolment in the Lower Third year group . The presence of the comic book could suggest that Charles has typical interests for a boy his age. However, he is not reading the comic book or eating the chocolates. This might either suggest that Charles is too nervous about the school to do so or that his parents expect him to like comics and chocolates, which implies that they do not know or care what his real interests are.  

Charles’ outer characterisation suggests a rather frail physique:

The child had black hair, flicked down smooth to his head. His ears, too large, jutted out, transparent in the light from the window, laced with tiny, delicate veins. H...